The Toyota Rav 4 is one of the best-selling compact SUVs on the market. It’s roomy enough for a family, but still fun to drive and maneuver around town, and overall one of my favorite SUVs from a Japanese company that is known for building reliable and affordable vehicles.
The Rav 4 is also one of the few SUVs that come with advanced driving tech, including a Sport Mode that lets you drive like a pro. But what is Sport Mode? And how does it work? In this article, I am going to Explain exactly that.
What is Sport Mode on a Toyota Rav 4?
“Sport mode” is the sportiest setting on the Rav 4. It changes how the vehicle drives and performs, especially when accelerating from a stop or when going up steep hills.
It also makes the engine sound different than it does in normal mode like you are driving a sports car instead of an SUV.
When you’re driving in Sport mode, your throttle will be more sensitive and responsive than it is in normal mode. This means that if you press down on the gas pedal, your Rav 4 will feel much more quicker.
What Happens when you Enable Sport Mode on a Rav4
When you enable sport mode on a Rav4 a couple of changes will happen including:
Increased Throttle:
The throttle response will feel different than it does in normal mode. It will feel more sensitive and responsive, and much more quickly. You will be able to press on the gas pedal and feel the car respond immediately.
It is important to note that “sport mode” does not increase horsepower or engine performance. The Rav4 will still have the same horsepower and engine performance as it does in normal mode. However, what it does is change the way that power is delivered to the wheels. It increases throttle response and makes it more sensitive.
High Engine RPM:
When you are driving in sport mode, the engine will run at higher RPMs. This means that when you put your foot on the gas pedal, it will respond more quickly and give you a feeling of more power.
Steering Becomes Heavier :
When you are driving in sport mode, the steering becomes heavier. This makes it easier to control the vehicle and helps provide a more enjoyable experience for drivers.
The only real downside to sport mode is that it uses more gas. This is because the engine runs at higher RPMs and there is more weight on the wheels (which requires more power to be moved).
Related: Toyota Rav4 Snow Mode
When to Use Sport Mode on a Toyota Rav 4?
Mountainous Offroad:
When you are driving in a mountainous area, it is important to keep the car in sport mode. This will help prevent your wheels from spinning while going up hills and provide more traction so that you can have more control over where you go.
Merging into a Highway:
Another ideal time to activate sport mode on a Rav 4 is when merging into a highway. This will help you accelerate faster and get up to speed with other drivers on the road.
Steep Hill:
Another time that you should turn on sport mode is when driving up a steep hill. This will help you accelerate faster so that you can make it all the way up without having to push down hard on your gas pedal.
Looking for Excitement
Another time that you should activate sport mode on your Rav 4 is when you are just driving around and enjoying yourself. This will make your car feel more responsive, which can be fun for some people.
Should You Always Drive Your Rav4 in Sport
In my opinion as a mechanic, I would advise you not to always drive your Rav 4 in sport mode. The first reason for this is fuel consumption since the engine has to rev high to accelerate quickly, which means it will use more fuel.
The second reason is that sport mode increases wear and tear faster (Although Toyota Engines are Strong and reliable) on the engine and other components compared to normal or eco mode.
Occasionally it is okay to use sport mode if you are going on a trip or road trip and want to enjoy the drive, but I would advise against using it daily.
How to Put a Rav 4 in Sport Mode
Sources:
https://www.toyota.com/content/dam/toyota/brochures/pdf/2022/rav4_ebrochure.pdf